All about that bass

It’s hard to think of New Edmonton Wind Sinfonia as a semi-professional orchestra. Its musicians are so talented.

Since artistic director and principal conductor Ray Baril picked up the baton in 1999, he has worked diligently to heighten the orchestra’s strengths – a precise balance among the various wind sections and establishing the right mood for each piece.

Throughout its 38-year tenure, the 45-piece orchestra produced many singular moments to savour. NEWS returns for its third seasonal concert on Friday, Feb. 27 at Sherwood Park’s Strathcona Christian Academy.

The concert may be titled All About That Bass, but its feature performer is tuba soloist Patrick Sheridan, a former member of “The President’s Own” United States Marine Band.

He was featured in television and radio broadcasts across four continents and maintains a busy international career with more than 75 concerts annually with orchestras, bands and chamber ensembles.

Sheridan has also co-authored The Breathing Gym, an exercise book designed to improve a musician’s breathing technique.

“He’s so knowledgeable and musical and he’s so well versed in the breathing method. He teaches students to breathe properly and extend their endurance. I attended his workshop about 10 years and I knew quite a bit about breathing. But even I started getting dizzy,” says Crystal Krips, a flautist at NEWS since 1999.

The St. Albert flute teacher notes that Sheridan will be performing Grappling, a jazz chart and The Strait of Hormuz, a feature piece. The popular score, although technically demanding, allows the tuba and orchestra to hold a back-and-forth conversation.

“It’s got a Mediterranean feel to it and he’ll be doing crazy acrobatics on it and solos.”

In addition, the orchestra presents a Pirates of the Caribbean Medley with its majestic series of wide-ranging notes. Also included is Godspeed with its 33-meter changes.

“You really have to concentrate on where you are. If the conductor changes his arm patterns, you have to keep track. If you loose your place, you pray.”

In the meantime, the neo-tonal Ar-gard shifts the atmosphere.

“We’re trying to get the different effects of air. There are lots of pentatonic scales and it has quite an Asian sound.”

In addition, the 98-member Northern Alberta Junior Honour Band, under the direction of Brent Pierce, is invited to perform the Spanish march Amparito Roca.

Nine students from the area are part of the performance. Alicia Krips, Haley Spector, Josh Bragg, Steve Howe and Jordan Reader attend St. Albert Schools. Hanna Parish is enrolled at Morinville’s G. H. Primeau School and Megan Roberts, Sydney Wygle and Liam Allard are from Sturgeon County.

“This is going to be a very special program. Pat Sheridan is amazing. We’re going to have a variety of music – something for everyone – popular, atonal, tuba extraordinaire and Mockbegger Variations, a really elegant piece.”